Category: Michigan Stories

Last Sunday afternoon, there were hula dancers at the downtown branch of Ann Arbor’s library.  The talented young women from Polynesian Dancers of Michigan also performed traditional dance forms of Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand.  Their teacher explained the basics of each style and, at points in the program, gave a lesson to all members… Continue reading Hula at the Library

Pretty much everyone in our area has symptoms.  Your nose runs constantly while you’re outdoors.  Or your throat is sore every day.  Or your eyes bother you all the time; sometimes they outright sting.  The weather’s been fine.  What gives?      It’s smoke.  Canada, our cherished neighbor, is on fire.  Winds carry the smoke our… Continue reading Finn and Archie

Sycamore trees have distinctive bark.  It has a mottled appearance that makes those unfamiliar with sycamores wonder after the health of the tree.  As there are a lot of sycamores in our neighborhood, all of which seem to be thriving, we have ample opportunity to admire them.  Their bark isn’t as elastic as the bark… Continue reading Sycamore Bark

The world smells fabulous these days.  Lilacs, peonies, and irises are all in bloom, lending their scents to the pervasive perfume of spring.  In addition, we’ve had a lot of rain, and the earth itself smells fecund, lush.  This is a smell my sisters and I love, having grown up in a land of lake… Continue reading Pecking Order

Last Saturday, Janice and I went to the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club to watch dog agility trials.  Conditions for spectating were ideal:  we had front-row seats, and we were surrounded by people who knew what was going on.  Conditions for human and canine competitors must have been pretty great, too.  This was an AKC-sanctioned… Continue reading Dog Agility

Despite the recurring frost warnings that might argue against it, spring is coming right along in southeast Michigan.  The cherry crop further north may even have a good year, although the final word isn’t yet in after the bad freeze on the last day of April.  So, as usual at this time of year, we’re… Continue reading Daryl’s New Book

As the dog and I returned to the neighborhood from Green Road this morning, we surprised a lady enjoying the scents of spring.  She was dressed all in shades of purple, and we passed her as she was drawing a branch of a tall lilac bush closer to her face so she could breathe in… Continue reading Knuckleheads and Music

Walking toward the Thrift Shop for my volunteer shift yesterday, I was struck by the array in the front windows.  Our ever-creative merchandising committee had made a display of scarves, hanging them from the arms of vertical structures, draping them through rings, piling them in decorative baskets.  The colors were appealing, airy, translucent.  The effect… Continue reading Scarves, Scares, Scents

     The town of Chelsea, near here, has a lot going for it.  Fabulous old houses, a thriving downtown, and notable restaurants.  Plus, of course, it’s friendly, but that’s to be expected.  Friendliness is a hallmark of the Midwest.  The level of friendliness in Chelsea this week, however, made national news.      Michelle Tuplin owns… Continue reading Book Brigade

A proverb claims you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.  Our dog has been busy lately, showing us the real truth behind the saying.  That real truth is that you don’t need to teach an old dog new tricks.  Old dogs are wily enough and experienced enough to teach themselves new tricks.      For… Continue reading New Tricks